By
Quynh Nguyen

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Stay impactful,

Amid growing concerns about the textile industry’s environmental impact, there is pressure to find greener clothes for your wardrobe. Organic cotton clothes are becoming quite the preferred materials as organic cultivation solves the widespread problems of pollution and exploitation in conventional cotton farming. Unfortunately, fashion greenwashing makes it harder for you and all other consumers to determine which brands offer the most eco-friendly organic cotton clothes. So, we had to ask: Which are the most sustainable organic cotton clothing brands? 

The most sustainable organic cotton clothing brands are Patagonia, Tentree, and Eileen Fisher, which use low-impact materials, employ full traceability, and strive for circularity. In addition, Neu Nomads and People Tree commit to lowering carbon footprints and adhering to fair trade practices. 

Whether you are searching for a versatile top, an elegant dress, or some comfortable underwear to add to your wardrobe without negatively impacting the soil, the water, the animals, and other people, there is a brand for you. So, let’s keep reading to learn more about the most sustainable organic cotton clothing brands and how they ensure sustainable, ethical practices. 

Here’s How Sustainable Organic Cotton Fabrics Generally Are

Organic cotton fabrics are generally sustainable. They are made with cotton fibers without any added chemicals and, thus, are fully biodegradable at the end of their life. The Common Objective’s Made-By Environmental Benchmark for Fibres ranked organic cotton class B fabric—the second most sustainable category of fibers. 

“Sustainable: The ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level | Avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance”

Oxford Dictionary

To understand the sustainability of organic cotton, we’ve assessed the life-cycle and each stage’s sustainability. This life-cycle assessment (LCA) is a method to evaluate the environmental impacts of products and materials. Here’s a quick summary of our LCA of organic cotton!

What makes it so sustainable: Organic cotton fabrics are made with natural fibers without any added toxic synthetic chemicals and, thus, are fully biodegradable at the end of their life. 

Additionally: The breathable organic cotton fabrics require less frequent washes, saving water and energy. 

Here’s How We Selected the Most Sustainable Organic Cotton Clothing Brands

The brands on this list were chosen based on their commitment and actions to promote sustainable practices while reducing the environmental impacts of the textile industry. 

They are transparent about their materials, processes, and workforce management within their supply chain. 

Some brands focus their efforts on reducing waste and optimizing natural resources while others strive to reduce the carbon footprint of their clothes. 

All of these brands share the commitment to reshape the textile industry toward a more sustainable and Earth-friendly sector. 

Overall, these organic cotton clothing brands are sustainable. Yet, they take various approaches to reduce environmental impacts and uphold ethical standards. Let’s dive into each brand and find out more. 

Patagonia: Everyday Wear for Those Who Care

“Together, we can prioritize purpose over profit and protect this wondrous planet, our only home.”

Patagonia

Patagonia puts sustainability at the center of their operation. They work to reduce, rather than simply offset, carbon emissions where it matters the most: in the supply chain and in material manufacturing. They reduce their carbon footprint by removing high-impact virgin fossil-based fibers from their collections, using “Environmental Profit and Loss” to guide their production decision, and helping their suppliers to cut emissions. Patagonia’s fall 2023 collection is made up mostly of preferred materials (91% by fabric weight), such as organic cotton, hemp, man-made cellulose fibers, and various recycled fabrics. On top of that, Patagonia’s Worn Wear program encourages customers to repair and recycle their products, extending the textile life-cycle and reducing waste. Lastly, Patagonia is certified as a B Corporation and a Bluesign brand. 

Patagonia commits to fair trade practices. Through the partnership with Fair Trade USA, they currently produce 86% of their clothes in 20 Fair Trade Certified factories. Patagonia pays a premium for every item produced in such factories, accumulating in a fund for workers to use in their chosen community projects, whether in healthcare or parent support or to withdraw as a cash bonus. Additionally, they have various social responsibility programs to prevent harm and create positive impacts on the lives of apparel workers in their supply chain. These include the Fair Labor Association, the Living Wage Program, the Migrant Workers Program, and the Responsible Purchasing Practices. Lastly, Patagonia is fully transparent about the locations of their facilities and suppliers. 

Since 1985, Patagonia has pledged 1% of sales annually to environmental causes. They have awarded over $89 million in cash and in-kind donations to domestic and international grassroots environmental groups, making a difference in their local communities. In 2022, the founder of Patagonia gave away his family’s ownership of the company to the newly created Patagonia Purpose Trust and the not-for-profit organization Holdfast Collective, ensuring that all future profits from the company are used to fight the climate and extinction crisis. 

• Best for: kidswear, menswear, womenswear 
• Product range: shirts, pants, jackets, blazers, hoodies, sweatshirts, T-shirts, shorts, plus-size
• Price range: $$$ 
• Size range: XXS–XXXL

Tentree: A Lifestyle Clothing Brand That Plants Trees for Every Item Purchased

“ We believe the future of business is restorative.”

Tentree 

Tentree ensures sustainability by planting trees, promoting circularity, opting for low-impact fabrics, and attaining responsible packaging. Since their inception, they have planted more than 100,000,000 trees, which helps regenerate ecosystems, capture carbon, and provide forestry jobs in communities around the world. Together with textile recycler SuperCircle and resale guru Treet, Tentree has created an integrated solution to resell or recycle pre-loved Tentree clothing items, keeping them in circulation and out of landfills. Tentree also uses eco-friendly fabrics and blends, including organic cotton, hemp, recycled polyester, and TENCEL™. Regarding packaging, they replaced all single-use plastics with FSC-certified and 100% recycled paper. Finally, they have B Corporation and Climate Neutral certifications. 

Tentree enforces fair labor practices by collaborating only with manufacturers and suppliers that guarantee a safe and respectful environment for their employees. They regularly audit their partner facilities to ensure compliance with their Code of Conduct and international labor standards. Part of their supply chains is certified by organizations that protect workers, such as Fair Wear Foundation, Global Organic Textile Standard, Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit, and Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production – WRAP. Additionally, Tentree commits to protecting forests through their paper, packaging, and fabric choices. 

Giving back is a cornerstone of Tentree’s mission. Tentree plants 10 trees worldwide for every item purchased, contributing to reforestation and combating climate change. In 2022 alone, their customers helped plant over 22 million trees across nine countries, restoring over 2,000 hectares of terrestrial forests, over 1,000 hectares of coastal mangrove forests, and hundreds of hectares of marine land. 

• Best for: kidswear, menswear, womenswear
• Product range: T-shirts, tank tops, shirts, sweaters, cardigans, dresses, pants, hoodies, dresses, shorts, skirts, joggers, jackets, coats, underwear
• Price range: $$
• Size range: XXS–XXL

Eileen Fisher: A Sustainable Fashion Brand Focusing on Eco-Friendly Materials and Textile Circularity 

“The Biggest Thing We Can Do Is Reduce”

Eileen Fisher, founder of Eileen Fisher 

Eileen Fisher’s sustainability efforts focus on using eco-friendly materials, including organic cotton, linen, and hemp, reducing greenhouse gas emissions generated from their operations and supply chain, reducing fabric and corporate waste, and recycling the brand’s used clothes back into new products. Their commitments to sustainable materials, circular systems, and environmentally friendly practices are demonstrated in initiatives like VISION 2020, Horizon 2030, and Renew. They are certified as a B Corporation and a Bluesign brand. 

Eileen Fisher is committed to ethical practices. They have worker empowerment initiatives such as collective bargaining and the right to make a complaint. For example, their “Our Love, Peru” project supports over 450 families in and around Arequipa with higher fair trade wages and investments in the local community. Additionally, Their VISION 2020, set in 2015, tackled unethical labor practices. 

Eileen Fisher supports many women-owned businesses. The brand has provided, since its inception, many grants for women, including the current program Supporting Women in Environmental Justice. 

• Best for: elegant, classic, and casual women’s clothes 
• Product range: dresses, blouses, sweaters, cardigans, pants, skirts and outerwear, shoes, accessories
• Price range: $$$ 
• Size range: XXS–3XL

Neu Nomads: An Ethic-First Brand With a Commitment to Sustainability and Traceability 

“We always consider how to create something beautiful with the lowest possible impact on the world.”

Karen Wood, founder of Neu Nomads

Neu Nomads prioritizes sustainability by opting for eco-friendly materials, using renewable energy in its supply chain, and reducing waste with a platform to resell and reuse pre-loved clothes. Their biodegradable, plant-based fabrics include linen, certified organic cotton, and TENCEL™. Their factory in India is powered by solar energy, with all the excess energy directed back to the local community. Water used for dying fabrics is captured, purified, and processed using non-toxic and AZO-free dyes. Nearly 90% of the water used during dyeing is recycled in a common effluent treatment plant. 

Neu Nomads ensures their ethics through fair labor practices and transparent supply chains. They make regular inspection visits to their suppliers. 85% of their garments are produced in a family-owned factory in Delhi that maintains healthy working conditions, health care benefits, and compensation far above the living wage.

Neu Nomads is not known to be part of any giving-back programs.

• Best for: luxurious essential clothing items for female modern travelers 
• Product range: shirts, scarves, dresses, pants, jackets, blazers, knitwear, tops, blouses, T-shirts, lingerie
• Price range: $$$
• Size range: XXS–XXL

People Tree: The Pioneer to Fair Trade Fashion 

“ We build awareness to empower customers and producers to participate in Fair Trade and environmentally sustainable solutions.”

People Tree

People Tree ensures sustainability by opting for low-impact materials, processes, and techniques. They only use natural fabrics made with low-impact fibers such as linen and GOTS-certified organic cotton or semi-natural/ semi-synthetic fabrics that follow closed-loop processes (such as TENCEL™). The brand uses low-waste cutting techniques to maximize fabric use. Their packaging is recyclable. 

People Tree puts fair trade and ethical production practices at the core of the brand. They are a pioneer of fair trade fashion, guaranteeing better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the Global South. They are also a member of the World Fair Trade Organization, which works on the 10 Principles of Fair Trade, including opportunities for disadvantaged producers and a commitment to no child labor or forced labor. 

People Tree is actively involved in initiatives to improve access to education for adults and children in the most vulnerable communities and programs that support people with disabilities and disadvantages. They also campaign for fair trade, sustainability, and social justice. 

• Best for: womenswear
• Product range: skirts, dresses, pants, tops, blouses, jumpsuits, socks, underwear
• Price range: $$
• Size range: S–XL

Whimsy + Row: Reducing Eco-Footprint With Every Step of the Process

 “Growing and being a good company.”

Rachel Temko, founder of Whimsy + Row

Whimsy + Row prioritizes sustainability by opting for low-impact materials like certified organic cotton, linen, TENCEL™, and deadstock/upcycled fabrics. Their clothes are made with low-impact dyes and recycled water. Furthermore, they reduce waste through their small-batch production of long-lasting products and efforts to close the loop to reach zero waste. The final stages of manufacturing are done locally to reduce the transportation footprint. They further offset their carbon emission with the Carbon Fund. Whimsy + Row is carbon neutral. 

Whimsy + Row clothing is made within a few miles of their office, enabling weekly factory visits. The brand ensures that fair wages are given and that workers are being treated fairly.

Whimsy + Row actively participates in giving-back programs that support environmental causes and community initiatives. Specifically, they donate money to organizations like One Tree Planted, People Tree, Global Fund for Women, Black Lives Matter, Reclaim the Block, Black Vision Collective, Downtown Women’s Health Center, and Feeding America. Once a month, their employees also donate their time to community work, such as cleaning the beach or planting trees. 

• Best for: womenswear with eco-friendly, contemporary designs 
• Product range: skirts, denim, dresses, pants, tops, blouses, shorts, lingerie, plus-size 
• Price range: $$$
• Size range: XS–3XL

Toad&Co: Made-to-Order Clothes Using Highly Sustainable Materials 

“Our commitment to a cleaner way of living and doing business has made us stronger and, like any good relationship, we take every day as it comes.”

Toad&Co

Toad&Co promotes sustainability by sourcing eco-friendly materials, reducing carbon footprints, supporting textile circularity, and joining the responsible packaging movement. 100% of Toad&Co clothing is made with a minimum of 80% sustainable fibers and/or fabrics that have met Earth-friendly standards in accordance with Bluesign or Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX^®. They use organic cotton, recycled fabrics, hemp, and TENCEL™. Furthermore, they purchase Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) for all Toad&Co locations to offset their energy use by supporting the development of emission-free renewable energy and carbon reduction projects. The ToadAgain platform enables reselling and buying pre-loved items to reduce waste and extend the lifespan of clothing items. Additionally, Toad&Co provides resources for consumers to mend and extend the usage of their clothes. 

Toad&Co is committed to promoting fair labor practices and safe working conditions in all factories in their supply chain. Their manufacturers are held to Toad&Co’s Workplace Code of Conduct to provide employees with a sustainable work environment. Their Code of Conduct follows the ILO Four Fundamental Freedoms principles. They also visit vendors’ facilities on a yearly basis to ensure that their clothes are produced with integrity. In 2010, Toad&Co was named one of Outside Magazine’s best places to work. 

At the very beginning of their journey, Toad&Co co-founded Planet Access Company, which employs adults with disabilities, fostering inclusivity and diversity in the workforce. Additionally, they run programs that support people with disabilities to make arts and enjoy outdoor adventures. They also give 1% of all sales to environmental causes via 1% for the Planet membership. In the last 20 years, they have helped to fund 120 environmental protection organizations. 

• Best for: menswear, womenswear
• Product range: shirts, sweaters, dresses, pants, maternity wear, T-shirts, shorts, underwear
• Price range: $$ 
• Size range: XS–XL

Outerknown: Stylish Clothes Made Sustainably and Ethically 

“We are driven by a passion for responsible action, courageous change, and great clothes.”

Outerknown

Outerknown places sustainability at its core by using eco-friendly materials such as organic cotton, recycled cotton, and responsible wool in their clothing, reducing the environmental impact. In 2022, these preferred fibers accounted for 95% of their collection. The brand’s Outerworn platform offers customers a chance to buy and sell pre-loved pieces, contributing to closing the loop in fashion. They also partner with Project Vermont to give new purpose to materials that would otherwise end up in landfills. Additionally, Outerknown strives to reduce their footprint by working with two B Corp Certified suppliers and having eight facilities running on renewable energy. 

Outerknown maintains ethics by promoting the highest labor standards in alignment with the Fair Labor Association. They publicly share their Code of Conduct, which covers all of the ILO Four Fundamental Freedoms principles. Outerknown provides Fairtrade Premium, which has improved workers’ livelihoods in their supply chain via workers’ chosen programs in healthcare, education, accommodation, and financial independence. 

Outerknown gives back to non-profits that align with their values and help make a larger impact. They work with organizations like Brother Benno, The Ocean Cleanup, Ocean Conservancy, Surfrider Maui Chapter, Surfrider Foundation, and Everytown. 

• Best for: menswear, womenswear
• Product range: shirts, pants, T-shirts, tops, sweaters, dresses, hoodies, shorts, denim, jackets, blazers, jumpsuits, playsuits, swimwear
• Price range: $$$ 
• Size range: XS–XL

Pact: Stylish, Comfortable, Essential Clothing Made Ethically and Sustainably 

“We believe the planet, and the people on it, should always come first in fashion.”

Pact

Pact ensures sustainability by using low-impact textile and packaging materials, offsetting the carbon impact of all their products, and facilitating the donation of used clothes to reduce waste. They use a high proportion of eco-friendly fabrics, including GOTS-certified organic cotton. Additionally, their clothes are delivered in the Vela^TM paper bags. These bags are made with carbon-neutral, FSC-certified, recyclable paper. Pact also partners up with SimpliZero. This partnership enables measuring the impact of every product Pact makes and offsetting it through reforestation, renewable energy, and community projects sequestering carbon from the atmosphere. Their Give Back Box incentive enables their customers to reuse the boxes their pact orders came in and donate their used clothes to local charities with the postal fee paid for by Pact. 

Pact uses Fair Trade Certified^TM factories, providing safe working conditions, community support, and additional development funds to workers in their supply chain. They trace most of their supply chain, including all of the final stage of production. 

Pact is not known to be part of any giving-back programs. 

• Best for: womenswear, menswear
• Product range: dresses, hoodies, sweatshirts, activewear, sleepwear, maternity wear, T-shirts, underwear, jumpsuits, playsuits, plus-size
• Price range: $$$
• Size range: XS–XXXL

Fair Indigo: Timeless, Quality Organic Clothing Made Ethically 

“Our designs are forever in fashion – pieces you’ll love for years, with quality that ensures you can.”  

Fair Indigo

Fair Indigo prioritizes sustainability by using almost exclusively “the world’s best organic cotton” to make quality and timeless clothes, encouraging and enabling fewer clothing purchases. Their organic cotton fabrics are GOTS-certified. They also use low-waste cutting techniques to maximize fabric use. Lastly, the commercial dyes used in their clothes are OEKO-TEX-certified, meaning they are free of the most harmful chemicals. 

Ethics are central to Fair Indigo’s brand ethos. They prioritize transparency in their supply chain, which starts with family-owned organic cotton farms in Peru. In the timeline of their T-shirt production, you can find information about every single step from seed to shirt, the time it takes, and the people who make it happen. The Peruvian artisans who make Fair Indigo’s clothes are paid a fair living wage and regularly visited. 

Fair Indigo covers 100% of administrative and fundraising costs for the Fair Indigo Foundation, whose mission is to improve educational opportunities for children in the Peruvian communities. The foundation funds teachers’ salaries, books, building improvements, and computer labs for children who would otherwise be left behind. 

• Best for: womenswear, menswear, kidswear 
• Product range: skirts, sweaters, dresses, pants, jackets, tops, blouses, T-shirts
• Price range: $$
• Size range: XS–XL

Organic Cotton Fabrics: Breathable Natural Materials From Organically Cultivated Cotton Plants 

Organic cotton fabrics are made with natural fibers from cotton plants cultivated without toxic synthetic chemicals. In contrast, conventional cotton is notorious for polluting production, both during farming and manufacturing. 

Here are the life-cycle stages of organic cotton fabrics and each stage’s sustainability assessment:

• Sourcing of organically-cultivated cotton plants: As they grow, cotton plants sequester carbon, helping to mitigate climate change. Organic cotton plants are grown without toxic synthetic chemicals and generally require less blue water (water from rivers, groundwater, and surface water). 
• Manufacturing of organic cotton fabrics: Manufacturers of organic cotton fabrics don’t use synthetic chemicals as conventional cotton manufacturers do, especially in the dyeing and finishing processes. Manufacturing is an energy-intensive process with serious knock-on ecological impacts if fossil fuels are the main source of energy generation. 
• Transportation of organic cotton fabrics: Organic cotton fabrics typically travel from cotton fields to factories, then sorting centers, shops, and consumers’ homes before going to recycling centers or landfills. The GHG emissions associated with transporting vehicles could also be significant. 
• Usage of organic cotton fabrics: Organic cotton fabrics are breathable. Furthermore, they don’t need to be washed too frequently, saving water and energy. 
• End-of-life of organic cotton fabrics: The end-of-life stage for organic cotton is sustainable because the fiber is biodegradable and compostable. 

Organic cotton fabrics are largely sustainable because the cotton fibers are grown and processed without harsh synthetic chemicals. They are also breathable and biodegradable, which are two tell-tale signs of textile sustainability. 

Why Is It Important to Buy Products Made of More Sustainable Fabrics

It is important to buy products made of more sustainable fabrics because a sustainable textile industry has a lower carbon footprint, helps save natural resources, and is ultimately better for forests, animals, and humans. 

Buying Sustainable Fabrics Reduces Your Carbon Footprint 

The production of clothing and footwear is estimated to contribute 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions—more than all international flights and shipping combined. If the fashion industry were a country, it would be the fourth largest emitter of carbon dioxide. 

One way to reduce the carbon footprint of the clothes you buy is to opt for sustainable fabrics. Sustainable fabrics, which are often made with natural or recycled fibers, have relatively low carbon footprints compared to petroleum-based fabrics. For example, organic cotton made in the US has a carbon footprint of 2.35 kg CO₂ (per ton of spun fiber)—a quarter of polyester’s carbon footprint. 

Buying Sustainable Fabrics Reduces Demand for Natural Resources and Waste Management

The textile industry uses water and land to grow cotton and other fibers. It is estimated that 79 billion cubic meters of water were used for the sector worldwide in 2015. For example, producing a single cotton T-shirt requires as much water as one person drinks for 2.5 years (2,700 liters of fresh water).

Worse yet, the textile economy is vastly more linear than circular: the largest amount of resources used in clothes ended up in landfills (instead of being recycled to remake clothes). According to a report by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation,

• Less than 3% of materials used in the textile economy in 2015 came from recycled sources.
• In other words, more than 97% of resources used in making clothes are newly extracted. 

When clothing items are disposed of within a short period of time—under a year in the case of half of the fast fashion clothes—the natural systems that provide raw materials for fabrics don’t have enough time to recover and regenerate, which could lead to ecological breakdown. 

Sustainable fabrics are made with less water and emissions while lasting longer:

• Because they are durable, you don’t need to buy new clothes too often. 
• Thus, you help reduce the pressure to extract more resources for making new items. 

Similarly, making and consuming sustainable fabrics made with recycled materials reduces the demand for virgin materials while helping tackle waste management. 

Buying Sustainable Fabrics Encourages Sustainable Management of Forests

Sustainable plant-based fabrics are made with raw materials from forests and plantations that are sustainably managed, such as by complying with FSC standards. 

When you buy sustainable plant-based fabrics, you discourage unsustainable forestry practices like illegal logging. By doing this, you can also help reduce deforestation, biodiversity loss, and the effects of climate change. 

Buying Sustainable Fabrics Encourages Fairer Treatment of Animals 

The fashion industry is rife with animal mistreatment when it comes to making animal-based fabrics like wool or silk. Every year, billions of animals suffer and die for clothing and accessories.

Buying sustainable vegan alternatives can help to reduce the pressure on raising more and more animals to meet the demand for animal-based fabrics while sacrificing their well-being and lives. 

Suppose you have to buy fabrics made with, for example, wool or silk. In this case, make sure you only choose brands committed to cruelty-free products. In doing so, you help advocate better treatments for animals raised within the textile industry. 

Using Sustainable Fabrics Encourages Fairer Treatment of Textile Workers 

Recent statistics from UNICEF estimated as many as 170 million child laborers worldwide, many of whom were engaged in some form of work in the textile industry. They don’t get paid minimum wages and often work long hours. 

When you buy sustainable fabrics from brands transparent about the working conditions at their factories, you discourage the use of child labor and help promote better working conditions for textile workers.

How Can You Generally Buy More Sustainable Fabrics

The key to sustainably buying fabrics is to check on relevant environmental and original certifications. 

For natural fabrics: 

• Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS): A globally recognized certification system that ensures a certain threshold of organic content has been met. It covers manufacturing, packaging, labeling, transportation, and distribution (but not what happens in the fields where crops are grown). 
• USDA Certified Biobased Product: The USDA BioPreferred® Certification is a voluntary certification offered by the United States Department of Agriculture. The certification identifies products made from plants or other renewable materials.
• Ecolabel: Ecolabel is the official European Union voluntary label recognized worldwide for certified products with a guaranteed, independently verified low environmental impact. The label requires high environmental standards throughout the entire life-cycle: from raw material extraction through production and distribution to disposal. It also encourages companies to develop innovative, durable, easy-to-repair, and recyclable products. 

For plant-based semi-natural/semi-synthetic fabrics:

• Forest Stewardship Council: An FSC certification ensures that the wood (or wood-like material) comes from responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, social, and economic benefits.
  
  There are two types of FSC Certification: 
  • FSC Forest Management Certification, with a focus on the origin of the wood—the forest. 
  • FSC Chain of Custody Certification, which focuses on the path from the forest to the customer’s home. 

• Program for Endorsement of Forest Certification: PEFC’s approaches to sustainable forest management are in line with protecting the forests globally and locally and making the certificate work for everyone. Getting a PEFC certification is strict enough to ensure the sustainable management of a forest is socially just, ecologically sound, and economically viable but attainable not only by big but small forest owners.

For recycled fabrics:

• Recycled Claim Standard (RCS): The Textile Exchange RCS was originally developed as an international, voluntary standard that sets requirements for third-party certification of Recycled input and chain of custody. 
• The Global Recycled Standard (GRS): The Global Recycled Standard (GRS) is an international, voluntary, full product standard that sets requirements for third-party certification of Recycled Content, chain of custody, social and environmental practices, and chemical restrictions. It can be used for any product with more than 20% recycled material.

For all types of fabrics:

• STeP by OEKO-TEX®: STeP by OEKO-TEX® is an independent certification system for brands, retailers, and manufacturers from the textile and leather industry. It communicates organizational environmental measures, including reducing carbon footprint and water usage.
• OEKO-TEX^® Standard 100: OEKO-TEX® labels aim to ensure that products pose no risk to human health (i.e. containing banned chemicals). 

Some certifications that are signaling brands’ efforts toward lowered environmental impacts and a circular economy are: 

• B Corp Certification: The label B Corp is a certification reserved for for-profit companies. Certified holders are assessed on their social and environmental impacts. 

• Cradle2Cradle certification: Cradle2Cradle provides a standardized approach to material circularity. It assesses whether products have been suitably designed and made with the circular economy in mind covering five critical categories: material health, material reuse, renewable energy and carbon management, water stewardship, and social fairness.

Final Thoughts

Organic cotton fabrics are generally sustainable materials. They are made in a mechanical process with chemical-free cotton fibers. Also, organic cotton crops use water relatively efficiently while sequestering and storing carbon. 

By purchasing new or pre-loved organic cotton clothes from brands that commit to sustainability, you support their mission to create a fairer and less harmful textile industry for all lives on Earth. 

Here is the list (again) of the most sustainable organic cotton clothing brands:

• Patagonia 
• Tentree 
• Eileen Fisher
• Neu Nomads
• People Tree 
• Whimsy + Row 
• Toad&Co
• Outerknown 
• Pact 
• Fair Indigo

To make your use of these fabrics even more sustainable, follow these steps:

1. Buy second-hand, recycled, or upcycled clothes made with organic cotton clothes.
2. While using linen clothes, maximize the number of wears between washes and keep them as long as possible.
3. At the end-of-life of your organic cotton clothes, upcycle the materials to extend their usage and arrange for them to be recycled or properly disposed of.

Stay impactful,

Sources

• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Organic Cotton Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Britannica: cotton | fiber and plant
• Common Objective: REPORTS & TOOLS | MADE-BY ENVIRONMENTAL BENCHMARK FOR FIBERS
• Science Direct: Life-cycle assessment (LCA)
• Patagonia: Home
• Tentree: Home
• Eileen Fisher: Home
• Neu Nomads: Home
• People Tree: Home
• Whimsy + Row: Home
• Toad&Co: Home
• Outerknown: Home
• Pact: Home
• Fair Indigo: Home
• Patagonia: The Climate Crisis Is Our Business
• Patagonia: The Climate Crisis Is Our Business | No More Virgin Petroleum Fibers by 2025
• Patagonia: The Climate Crisis Is Our Business | Is Each Product Worth the Environmental Cost?
• Patagonia: The Climate Crisis Is Our Business | Help Suppliers Cut Emissions
• Patagonia: Environmental Responsibility
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Hemp Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Patagonia: Man-Made Cellulosic Fibers
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Recycled Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Patagonia: WORN WEAR
• B Corporation: Patagonia
• Bluesign: Home
• Fair Trade: Home
• FAIR TRADE CERTIFIED: Improving Lives, Protecting the Planet. 
• Patagonia: Social Responsibility
• Patagonia: Fair Trade
• Patagonia: Fair Labor Association
• Patagonia: Living Wage Program
• Patagonia: Migrant Workers Program
• Patagonia: Responsible Purchasing Practices
• Patagonia: Where We Do Business
• Patagonia: 1% for the Planet
• Forbes: Yvon Chouinard And The Patagonia Purpose Trust— What Is It And Will It Work?
• Fast Company: Patagonia uses capitalism to save the planet with the Holdfast Collective
• The New York Times: Patagonia Founder Gives Away the Company to Fight Climate Change
• Tentree: Tree Planting FAQ
• Tentree: Circularity By tentree
• Tentree: Our Materials
• Tentree: Thinking Outside the Box
• Tentree: WE’RE TENTRE | We Believe Big Change Starts Small.
• SuperCircle: Home
• Treet: Home
• Tentree: SuperCircle
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• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are TENCEL Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
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• CLIMATE NEUTRAL: Tentree
• Tentree: Ethical Manufacturing
• Good On You: Brand Directory | Tentree
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• Shopify: Ten Tree International Inc. (tentree) | Commitment to Protect Forests Through Our Paper, Packaging and Fabrics Choices
• Tentree: THE ENVIRONMENTOR | Here’s Where We Plant Your Trees
• Tentree: 04 nature | TENTREE SUSTAINABILITY 
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Linen Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Eileen Fisher: OUR VISION2020 RESULTS
• Eileen Fisher: Our Brand
• B Corporation: Eileen Fisher
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• Good On You: Brand Directory | Eileen Fisher
• Eileen Fisher: Community | Love, Peru. Our Fair Trade Project.
• CFDA: HOW EILEEN FISHER IS THE ULTIMATE SUSTAINABLE LABEL
• Seek Capital: 11 Small Business Grants For Women
• Neu Nomads: EVERYTHING CONSIDERED
• Good On You: Brand Directory | Neu Nomads
• Neu Nomads: FULL CIRCLE
• People Tree: Home
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Natural Fabrics Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Semi-Natural/ Semi-Synthetic Fabrics Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Good On You: Brand Directory | People Tree
• People Tree: Our Story
• One World Shop: 10 Principles of Fair Trade
• Whimsy + Row: ABOUT OUR FABRIC
• Whimsy + Row: OUR VALUES & SUSTAINABILITY
• Good On You: Brand Directory | Whimsy + Row
• Whimsy + Row: OUR STORY
• Carbon Fund: Home
• TOAD&CO: A TOAD IS BORN
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• TOAD&CO: THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY
• TOAD&CO: OUR PACKAGING JOURNEY
• FIBRE2FASHION: Interview With Gordon Seabury
• OEKO-TEX: Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX^®
• THE INTERNATIONAL REC STANDARDS: HOME
• TOAD&CO: OUR HISTORY
• TOAD&CO: ToadAgain Platform
• TOAD&CO: WORKPLACE CODE OF CONDUCT
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• Planet Access Company: Home
• TOAD&CO: EVERYONE DESERVES OPPORTUNITIES
• SEARCH INC: SEARCH FOR ADVENTURE
• TOAD&CO: GOOD PRODUCTS ARE NOTHING WITHOUT GOOD INTENTIONS
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• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Wool Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Outerknown: Progress Every Step Of The Way
• Outerknown: What is Outerworn?
• Shopify: OUTERKNOWN Supplier Code of Conduct
• Fair Labor Association: Home
• International Labour Organization: ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work
• Fairtrade: Fairtrade Premium
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• Everytown: Home
• Good On You: Brand Directory | Pact
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• Pact: Responsible Packaging
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• Pact: Sustainability, Certified
• Pact: Give Back Box
• Fair Indigo: Organic Pima Cotton
• Fair Indigo: Impeccable Quality at Each Step
• Good On You: Brand Directory | Fair Indigo
• Fair Indigo: Ethically Made Clothing
• Fair Indigo: From Seed to Shirt
• Fair Indigo: Our Mission
• Fair Indigo: A foundation for the future
• Textile Exchange: THE LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF ORGANIC COTTON FIBER – A GLOBAL AVERAGE – SUMMARY OF FINDING
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Cotton Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Intechopen: Natural Fibers: The Sustainable Alternatives for Textile and Non-Textile Applications
• European Parliament: The impact of textile production and waste on the environment (infographic)
• Science Direct: The challenge of “Depeche Mode” in the fashion industry – Does the industry have the capacity to become sustainable through circular economic principles, a scoping review
• Science Direct: Carbon Footprint of Textile and Clothing Products
• European Parliament: Environmental impact of the textile and clothing industry 
• European Parliament: What if fashion were good for the planet? 
• Ellen MacArthur Foundation: A New Textiles Economy: Redesigning fashion’s future
• McKinsey: Style that’s sustainable: A new fast-fashion formula
• Forest Stewardship Council: Home
• Our World in Data: Deforestation and Forest Loss
• Our World in Data: Renewable Energy
• Peta: Animals Used For Clothing
• The Guardian: Child labour in the fashion supply chain
• BioPreferred: WHAT IS THE BIOPREFERRED PROGRAM?
• European Commission: Environment | EU Ecolabel
• Forest Stewardship Council
• FSC Forest Management Certification
• FSC Chain of Custody Certification
• Program for Endorsement of Forest Certification
• Textile Exchange: The RCS and GRS are designed to boost the use of recycled materials
• OEKO-TEX: Certification according to STeP by OEKO-TEX®
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